Write 2 paragraphs describing some of the race issues the United States dealt during WWII.
A: The United States dealt with many issues during World War II. Most of these issues were race-related or involved racism. For example, when hordes of African Americans migrated from the South to the North and West to obtain jobs in war factories during World War II, local residents often treated them with hostility and suspicion. Sometimes these attitudes led to violence, such as in the Detroit race riot of 1943. African Americans, however, were not the only people who were subject to such discrimination. A large amount of wartime prejudice was aimed toward Japanese Americans. When Japan attacked the base at Pearl Harbor, many West Coast Americans lashed out at Japanese Americans by attacking their businesses and their homes, refusing to cash their checks, and refusing to sell them food. Rumors about Japanese spies in the Japanese American community made matters worse. Members of Congress, mayors, and many business and labor leaders who came to believe these rumors believed that Japanese Americans would not remain loyal to the United States while at war with Japan and wanted all people of Japanese descent to be removed from the West Coast. Eventually, Roosevelt gave into their demand and signed an order allowing the War Department to declare any part of the United States to be a military zone and to remove anyone from that zone. As a result, all people of Japanese descent who lived in the West Coast were forced to sell their homes, businesses, and personal property and evacuate to internment camps. Since the U.S. was also at war with Italy and Germany during the time, Italian and German immigrants also faced discrimination. Many lost jobs because of curfews and were were subject to police searches, confiscation of fishing boats used to provide a source of income, forced relocation, and even internment. This was a major race issue during this period because, despite fears and rumors, no immigrant of these races had committed treason. In fact, Japanese Americans served as translators for the U.S. army during the war in the Pacific.
Another major example of the race issues that the United States dealt with during the war was the “zoot suit.” In Los Angeles, prejudice against Mexican Americans and the fear of juvenile crime became linked after rumors that zoot suiters (Mexican American teenagers) had attacked several sailors spread. Consequently, 2,500 soldiers and sailors stormed into Mexican American neighborhoods and attacked the teenagers, cutting their long hair and ripping off their zoot suits. Police forces did not intervene or stop this violence for several days, and the city of Los Angeles banned the zoot suit in response.
I disagree that MMST of the problems the U.S. faced during World War II were race-related. We were at war in the greatest/worst conflict in world history. I think that was the major problem. You have accurately summarized race-related issues faced during those years, though.
Double check on the idea that Japanese-Americans were forced to sell homes and businesses, though. Did they have to merely abandon their property, taking with them only what they could carry in a suitcase? I think you'll find selling their property was not often an option.
http://www.bing.com/search?q=japanese-american+internment+during+ww+ii&form=EDGNTC&qs=PF&cvid=81de2cb1068644208187df3f257b18ea&pq=japanese-american%20internment%20during%20ww%20ii
So should I change the beginning of my first paragraph?
And according to my textbook, that's what Japanese-Americans were forced to do. It's saddening but according to my textbook, it's true.
Then go with your textbook. Yes, it was sad, and blot on our history; something we should not be proud of. Even the good old USA makes mistakes sometimes.
Some Japanese-Americans were lucky enough to have a friend take over their store or whatever until they returned, but that was rare. When their property was sold, it was usually sold for cents on the dollar. Much was, truly, just abandoned. When the Japanese-Americans were released, they often found someone else living in their houses and had no recourse. Renters, of course, had no place to return to. Read more about it. I think your textbook is making a generalization that is only partly true.
But, if that's what your textbook says, then you should answer the question accordingly.
Victoria, you will find that textbook authors often put the "best face" on things that we're not proud of. For example, new history textbooks in Texas do not refer to slaves as slaves, calling them "workers" instead, thereby putting a "best face" on something we now think was morally wrong. Many writers put the "best face" on the internment of Japanese-Americans, too, trying to say it wasn't as bad as it really was.
During World War II, the United States faced numerous race-related issues that highlighted the deep-seated racism within the country. African Americans faced hostility and discrimination as they migrated from the South to the North and West to obtain jobs in war factories. The Detroit race riot of 1943 erupted due to the animosity towards African Americans, resulting in violence and further racial tension. Japanese Americans also became victims of discrimination following the attack on Pearl Harbor. They faced attacks on their businesses and homes, refusal to cash their checks, and denial of food. These prejudices led to the forced evacuation and internment of Japanese Americans living on the West Coast, based on the unfounded fear that they would be disloyal to the United States during the war.
Italian and German immigrants also faced discrimination during this period. Despite no evidence of treasonous activities, they experienced job loss, curfews, police searches, confiscation of fishing boats, forced relocation, and internment. It is essential to note that the U.S. was at war with Italy and Germany at the time, and these discriminatory actions were fueled by stereotypes and fears. Additionally, Mexican Americans faced prejudice and racial profiling, exemplified by the "zoot suit" riots in Los Angeles. These events originated from rumors of Mexican American teenagers attacking sailors, leading to a violent response from military personnel, resulting in the banning of zoot suits by the city.
These instances during World War II illustrate the deep racial tensions and discrimination prevalent in the United States. Understanding and acknowledging these historical events is crucial for recognizing the long-lasting impact of systemic racism and the continuous struggle for equality and justice.